Found yourself partying till the early hours in the basement of an East London club night recently? You’ll undoubtedly have spotted Kurtis Lincoln from across the dancefloor. With a thick wave of black curls, often scantily clad in merely a jockstrap, the self-proclaimed ‘Artist and/or Party Boy’ has many tricks up his sleeve. In the last year alone, he’s starred in a Bruce LaBruce flick that premiered at Berlin film festival Berlinale, crafted elaborate sets alongside his partner Max Allen for the likes of Adonis and new queer bar The Divine and self-published two brilliant zines.
You can also find him regularly go-going at Dalston Superstore and jumping on the mic in the peak hours of any mad club night. All of which has been perfect practice as he launches his music career. For his debut single ‘Funktion 1’, Lincoln turned to East London legend DJ Hannah Holland to produce the infectious cut, which he has christened “an ode to summer, big rigs and fit boys”. Channelling a series of his personal heroes in the track’s music video – from Carmen Miranda through to silent film star Theda Bara – there’s plenty more to come from Lincoln, with his debut EP Hodgepodge set to drop in June alongside more electric visuals.
Before all that, though, we grabbed him for a quick round of VIQs (that’s Very Important Questions).
1. Who is Kurtis Lincoln?
An Artist, a party boy, a jack of all trades.
2. How would you describe your sound in 10 words or less?
A sonic smorgasbord for the city that I love.
3. Who are three of your biggest musical influences?
M.I.A., Shabba Ranks… and RuPaul.
4. What’s the perfect environment to listen to the song in?
Wherever, as long as you’re listening to it. No, I’m kidding. Honestly I had the best time dancing in my room to it while I was sending stuff back and forth with the producer Hannah Holland, so maybe there, dancing like no one’s watching. Or on a big rig partying in a field – that’s what inspired the whole track to be fair.
5. Who were you channelling in the music video?
There were quite a few references that me, my choreographer (Chester Hayes) and my costume designer and partner (Max Allen) discussed when putting the video together. The choreo is based on the mega dance sequences by Busby Berkley in films like The Gangs All Here so I had Carmen Miranda in mind who is just amazing in that movie. Max also created this really gorgeous, green, witchy-enchantress dance costume that made me feel like the silent film star Theda Bara – that’s where the smoky eyes and intense stares came from, it also made me move my hips like never before haha. Then there’s also an ‘80s club kid/cabaret star from New York called John Sex who is like my eternal reference. He just perfectly straddled irreverence and vulgarity and really knows how to keep the sexiness camp. Apparently, he was also a sex worker so like – cut from the same cloth.
6. What’s the wildest night out you’ve ever been on?
Oh girl! There’s a few too many to even get into and some things are best left unspoken about. But I think my most ‘pinch me, is this really happening?’ night out was a three day bender I went on with Bruce LaBruce in Berlin. I starred in his most recent movie and it premiered at the Berlinale so we just got mash up for three days. Again, there’s definitely some things I can’t repeat but highlights include watching my sex scene on the TV’s in Ficken 3000. Oh and going to Berghain in my red carpet outfit, stripping it off and then just running around in this baby blue jockstrap I stole from a shoot and these fabulous little mary jane shoes. Standard procedure.
7. What’s your party trick?
Still looking fresh as a daisy on day two.
8. What’s your prized wardrobe possession?
Any of my Walter Van Beirendonck. Or wait, actually any of my vintage Disney merch. Wait, actually this is cheating because it’s not an item of clothing, but my Kenneth Williams doll would be the one item I would save in a fire.
9. What’s your karaoke song?
‘Yoü & I’ by Lady Gaga, down! Catch me on a Friday night, Walthamstow Trade Hall BELTING that shit.
10. What does the rest of the year hold for you?
I’m working on a few things at the minute. My debut EP Hodgepodge comes out at the end of June with two more music videos that I’m really excited about. I’m trying to put together a fun launch party for that with a live show, dancers, the whole shabang. I’m also dancing at Glastonbury for Block 9 with all my girls so that’ll be messy lol. And I’m finally biting the bullet and learning to DJ so if any homos want me to cause a scene in their dingy clubs with bad sound systems – book me! Basically, I’ll be doing anything that helps me pay my rent.
Director: Kurtis Lincoln
DOP: James Taylor Peek
Choreographer: Chester Hayes
Costumes: Allen & Adcock
Hair & MUA: Raphael Arcadios
Set Design: Puff Bouquets
Producer: Angel Garcia Brown
Photographer: Roisin Murphy